How healthy are the snacks your children buy at school?

Not very, according to a report released by the Kids’ Safe & Healthful Foods Project and the Health Impact Project. A health impact assessment from the groups recommend raising nutrition standards for all snacks sold in schools.

“The evidence is clear and compelling,” said Jessica Donze Black, director of the Kids’ Safe & Healthful Foods Project in a press release. “Implementing strong national nutrition standards to make the snacks and beverages our children consume healthier is something that schools and districts can afford. The USDA should do all it can to finalize and help implement strong standards.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to require snack food and drinks sold in schools outside of lunch to meet minimum nutrition standards. The HIA states putting nutritional standards on snacks would reduce childhood obesity, since students would be less likely to buy snacks and the snacks sold would contain less calories. The report also highlights the trend that many schools end up losing money from food service budgets as students purchase more snacks.